Enter the nursing field at a higher level

DePaul’s Master’s Entry to Nursing Practice (MENP) program is for college graduates who want to become nurses. With our entry level master’s in nursing, you’ll get the same one-on-one, personal attention from faculty members that you’ll give your patients. You will develop the skills you need to excel as a nurse in any specialty you choose.

Through our program, you’ll gain

• credentials beyond a baccalaureate nursing degree
• leadership skills that will help you move into administrative, educational or advocacy roles
• research expertise that hospital administrators and medical investigators value

You’ll also be eligible for the RN licensure examination (NCLEX-RN).

Courses are offered in-person at the Lincoln Park Campus. At the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science site in North Chicago, courses are offered in a new hybrid model with classes held virtually and only labs and clinicals require in-person. Both accelerated programs are designed to be completed in two years.

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Unparalleled hands-on preparation

Our network of more than 75 clinical sites means you’ll gain extensive hands-on experience with a variety of patient populations and practice settings. We’re one of the few programs to guarantee you a full intensive-care clinical rotation, as well as a clinical immersion internship. As you make these connections, you’ll build your professional network throughout the Chicago metropolitan area.

Application Deadlines

?Term	?Early Decision	?Final Deadline*	?Term Start Date
?Fall	?January 15	?July 15*	?September 7, 2022
?Winter	?June 15	?November 1*	?January 2, 2023
?Spring	?October 1	?January 15*	?March 25, 2023
?Summer	?October 1	?April 15*	?June 12, 2023

* Review of applications will begin after the Early Decision date and will continue until each cohort is filled. Contact the Office of Graduate Admission at graddepaul@depaul.edu for more information.

Admission Requirements

Submit an online application, résumé, official transcripts and letters of recommendation.

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Required Courses

Students complete 107 quarter hours.

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1st

DePaul’s MENP program was the first in Illinois to enable college graduates to enter the field without a bachelor’s in nursing.

 

93%

of Nursing graduates were employed, continuing their education or pursuing other goals within six months of graduation.

Faculty with a rich perspective

You’ll benefit from the extensive professional backgrounds of faculty like Barbara Harris, PhD, RN. Harris is an Illinois Board of Higher Education Nurse Educator Fellow and noted author of publications on pharmacological interventions for schizophrenia and public health policy. She specializes in women’s mental health and emotional distress related to psychiatric issues.

“This unique program was specific to my goals. DePaul made me feel at home and I could not see myself going anywhere else to pursue my nursing degree. The clinical experiences allow students to apply what they are learning and allow a seamless transition into a future nursing career.”

Finney

Current MS student 

Alumni Network

You’ll be connected to DePaul’s strong alumni network, including nearly 3,000 nursing alumni working in the Chicago area, like Lurie Children’s Hospital, Northshore University HealthSystem and the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.

Scholarships

Graduate school is an investment in your future. Learn more about the financial aid and scholarship opportunities available to you.

MENP Program Admission

?MENP Application Deadlines?

??Term	Early Decision?	Final Deadline*	Term Start Date?
?Fall	?January 15	?July 15*	?September 7, 2022
?Winter	?June 15	?November 1*	?January 2, 2023
?Spring	?October 1	?January 15*	?March 25, 2023
?Summer	?October 1	?April 15*	?June 12, 2023

?????* Review of applications will begin after the Early Decision date and will continue until each cohort is filled. Contact the Office of Graduate Admission at graddepaul@depaul.edu for more information. 

 

Students applying through NursingCAS should submit their application at least 4 weeks in advance of the deadlines listed, as it can take NursingCAS several weeks to verify your application and we do not review unverified NursingCAS applications.

You may only apply to one cohort location and one term. Please choose the location (the Lincoln Park Campus or the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science) and term that is most convenient for you. 

Graduate Information Sessions 

Please join us for an upcoming information session featuring DePaul's master's entry to nursing practice (MENP) program. Information sessions are held regularly at the Lincoln Park Campus and at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in North Chicago (about 35 miles north of Chicago).

Applying for Admission 

Applicants have two options:

1. Apply directly to DePaul at www.depaul.edu/apply OR
2. Apply through NursingCAS. NursingCAS is the online, centralized application service for nursing programs nationwide. Students applying through NursingCAS should submit their application 4 weeks in advance of the deadlines listed, as it can take NursingCAS several weeks to verify your application. Your application must be verified by NursingCAS before it is considered complete for review by DePaul.
   
   You may only apply to one cohort location and one term. Please choose the location (the Lincoln Park Campus or the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science) and term that is most convenient for you. 

General Admission Requirements

To be eligible for the master’s entry to nursing practice program, students must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. 

• Online application (www.depaul.edu/apply) OR NursingCAS application
• Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended 
• A personal statement - These questions are prompts within the application. Together, they comprise the Personal Statement that is required for a complete application.
  • How will your prior background contribute to your ability to fulfill the daily responsibilities of an entry-level registered nurse? (200 word max)
  • St. Vincent DePaul observed the needs of impoverished people with disparities in access to healthcare. He ultimately dedicated his life to answering a single question: "What must be done?" How will you utilize a nursing degree obtained from DePaul University to address these disparities? (200 word max)
  • Please address the strengths and opportunities for growth in your application (i.e., explanation for GPA below 3.2, repeated coursework, gaps in academic history, and performance on standardized tests.) (200 word max)
• Two letters of reference from professional or academic sources
  • The recommender can be a professor or work supervisor (not a coworker or relative) and should address the student's ability to perform graduate work successfully.
• Curriculum vitae or resume
  • Please include professional activities (i.e. organizational memberships, committee memberships, officer positions, etc.) and community service activities.
• ?Official GRE scores - DePaul's School of Nursing does not require the GRE for admission to the MENP program. Applicants may still submit a GRE score to strengthen their application. (GRE institution code: 1165)?
• For applicants who have been educated in a country where the native language is not English, a TOEFL or IELTS score is required. If a student holds an undergraduate or graduate degree from a U.S. institution or other English-only speaking country, they will not be required to provide English proficiency test scores.

The admission committee reserves the right to request any additional materials they deem necessary to ensure an accurate review of an application.

Note: All students in the School of Nursing are required to complete a ten-panel drug screening prior to the first day of classes. Although Illinois state law permits the limited possession and use of cannabis, using or possessing cannabis remains a crime under federal law. Therefore, this screening includes cannabis. A confirmed positive drug test will result in a student being unable to enroll and/or dismissed from the program (in accordance with local, state, and federal law). Please see the Program Handbook for details. ??

International applicants

International students (those who were educated outside of the U.S. and/or require an F1 visa) must take additional steps to be considered for admission.  Please see the specific international application requirements here.

 

Prerequisite Coursework

In addition to the general admission requirements above, students should be able to provide proof of successfully completing the following prerequisite courses: 

• One course of human anatomy & physiology I (or human anatomy) with lab
• One course of human anatomy & physiology II (or human physiology) with lab
• One course of inorganic (i.e. general chemistry) with lab
• One course in organic chemistry with lab OR biochemistry with lab OR microbiology with lab

Note on Prerequisites

All prerequisite courses must include labs and have been completed within the last seven (7) years with a grade of 'C' or better. Pass/Fail grades will not be accepted. All prerequisites must be completed before the start of term to which the student is applying.?  The prerequisites must be taken for college credit at a regionally accredited institution.  

Two prerequisite courses must be completed before the application deadline in order to be reviewed for that entry term. Students who have completed all or most of their prerequisites are given priority consideration. If the admission review committee needs additional information on an applicant whose prerequisites are not complete, they may defer making a decision on the application until the review period for the next available term.

Degree Requirements

Course Requirements

Level I (Basic Graduate Generic) - 35 credits

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
NSG 301	INTRODUCTION TO THE ART AND SCIENCE OF NURSING I	5
NSG 302	INTRODUCTION TO THE ART & SCIENCE OF NURSING II	8
NSG 303	INTRODUCTION TO THE ART & SCIENCE OF NURSING III	8
NSG 307	ART AND SCIENCE OF NURSING IV: PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH	6
NSG 322	BASIC PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY	4
NSG 332	HEALTH ASSESSMENT	4

Level II (Advanced Graduate Generic) - 40 credits

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
NSG 431	HEALTH PROMOTION FOR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES 1	4
NSG 434	COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SEMINAR I	1
NSG 435	COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SEMINAR II	1
NSG 440	MATERNAL HEALTH NURSING	6
NSG 441	INFANT, CHILD AND ADOLESCENT NURSING	6
NSG 442	COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING	4
NSG 443	CLINICAL IMMERSION AND INTERNSHIP	6
NSG 445	NURSING PROFESSIONALISM, ADVOCACY, AND LEADERSHIP	4
NSG 472	CRITICAL CARE NURSING	8

1

DePaul students who complete NSG 431 as DePaul undergraduates and who subsequently enroll in and complete the MENP program are not required to complete 4 additional quarter hours of coursework. They are considered to have completed all requirements of the MENP program and the requirement to take 4 additional quarter hours is waived for these students.?????

Level III (Graduate Core Courses) - 20 credits

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
NSG 400	THEORETICAL COMPONENTS OF NURSING	4
NSG 401	NURSING RESEARCH I	4
NSG 481	BIOSTATISTICS AND EPIDEMIOLOGY	4
NSG 540	CULTURE, ETHICS, AND POLICY ANALYSIS	4
NSG 598	GRADUATE RESEARCH SYNTHESIS	4
or NSG 599	THESIS RESEARCH

Level IV (Graduate Practice Core Courses) - 12 credits 

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
NSG 422	APPLIED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY	4
NSG 426	PHARMACOLOGY II	4
NSG 460	ADVANCED PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT ACROSS THE LIFESPAN	4

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